The newest Open Doors 2025 report reveals a striking shift in the global student landscape. While total international enrollment in the US grew modestly in 2024–25, the influx of new students has taken a noticeable hit. Fall 2025 saw a 17 percent drop in new international enrollments — the steepest decline in years — following a smaller 7 percent dip in the previous fall.
Visa uncertainties, shifting travel policies, and a more restrictive immigration climate have all played a part. Yet amid these challenges, India remains firmly at the top of the international student pyramid, sending more students to the US than any other country for the second year running.
India Retains No. 1 Position Despite Emerging Headwinds
The 2024–25 academic year saw 3,63,019 Indian students studying in the US — a 10 percent jump from 3,31,602 the previous year. Indians now constitute nearly one-third (30.8%) of all international students in the country.
This milestone comes even as institutions report that fresh enrollment from India has softened noticeably heading into fall 2025. Only 39 percent of US colleges saw stable or rising numbers from India, while the majority reported declines.
The report suggests that the downturn in India’s new enrollments is significant enough to influence the national trend — a sign of how large the Indian student presence has become.
China Reports Its Lowest Numbers in Years
China remains the second-largest source of international students, but its presence continues to shrink. With 2,65,919 students enrolled in 2024–25 — a 4 percent decline — China has reached its lowest US enrollment level in at least eight years.
Together, India and China still account for more than half of all international students in the US, but their trajectories have clearly diverged.
Visa Concerns and Travel Restrictions Remain the Biggest Roadblocks
According to the survey of over 825 US institutions:
- 96 percent cited visa-related concerns as a major factor behind declining new enrollments in 2025.
- 68 percent pointed to travel restrictions or logistical barriers.
- Administrative policies under the Trump administration — including stricter visa scrutiny and enhanced social media screening — continue to cast uncertainty for prospective applicants.
Despite the headwinds, institutions overwhelmingly emphasise the academic and economic value international students bring. Over 81 percent highlighted the importance of global perspectives on campus, while 60 percent stressed their financial contributions.
New Enrollment Declines Hit Graduate Programs Hardest
The underlying details of the report show a split pattern:
- New undergraduate enrollments grew by 5 percent in 2024–25.
- New graduate enrollments, however, fell by 15 percent, pulling the overall numbers into negative territory.
This is particularly significant because Indian students have traditionally gravitated toward graduate-level STEM programs — sectors that remain in demand but now face higher barriers to entry.
STEM Continues to Dominate International Student Choices
More than 57 percent of all international students in the US pursued STEM fields in 2024–25. This sustained interest highlights the enduring appeal of American research ecosystems, tech-driven career opportunities, and post-study work pathways linked to STEM degrees.
International students, overall, made up 6.1 percent of the US higher education population — a strong indicator of the country’s continued pull despite policy turbulence.
What Fall 2025 Signals for the Coming Years
The fall 2025 “snapshot,” offering early insights into the 2025–26 academic cycle, shows a measurable tightening:
- 17 percent decline in new international enrollments
- More institutions reporting difficulty in attracting Indian students
- Stabilising or rising enrollments from China and South Korea
The data suggests that the US remains a top global destination, but the path to entry is becoming more complex — especially for students from India.
The next year will depend heavily on visa reforms, diplomatic clarity, and how the US competes with emerging education hubs like Canada, the UK, and Australia, all of which have rolled out student-friendly policies.
